THE PORT AUTHORITY OF NY & NJ

Press Release Article

PORT AUTHORITY PREPARED TO HANDLE MILLIONS OF TRAVELERS DURING FOURTH OF JULY HOLIDAY WEEKEND

Date: Jun 28, 2011Press Release Number: 37-2011

Full Complement of Port Authority Customer Service Representatives And Toll Collectors Ready to Assist Customers

The Port Authority is prepared to handle more than 4.5 million travelers moving through its airports, bridges, tunnels, terminals and PATH rapid-transit system this Independence Day weekend – one of the summer's busiest travel periods.

Airports

From Wednesday, June 29, through Monday, July 4, approximately 2 million travelers are expected to pass through the agency's four major airports.

This year, 958,280 passengers are anticipated at John F. Kennedy International Airport. To ensure arriving at the airport on time and to ease highway congestion, travelers are encouraged to take advantage of AirTrain JFK, which links to the New York City subway system and the Long Island Rail Road.

Newark Liberty International Airport estimates that 638,560 travelers will pass through its facilities. Using AirTrain Newark, which links the airport to NJ Transit and Amtrak rail service, is the best way to reach the airport this weekend. Drivers should tune to 530 AM or call 888 EWR-INFO and press 22 for timely parking information.

Approximately 427,880 travelers will fly to their holiday destinations through LaGuardia Airport. Those arriving by car should call 718 533-3850 for parking information.

More than 7,000 passengers will use Stewart International Airport. For parking information, travelers should call 845 567-0048.

For alerts on airport weather delays, parking lot capacity, and AirTrain service advisories, passengers are encouraged to sign up for Airport Info-Alerts at www.panynj.gov. This free subscription service sends notifications straight to users' PDAs, cell phones, pagers, and computers.

Passengers also are urged to contact their carrier before arriving at the airport and to research the latest federal rules and regulations to ensure pleasant and hassle-free travel. Numerous travel resources can be found at www.tsa.gov and www.cbp.gov.

Port Authority Trans-Hudson (PATH)

PATH will provide additional service as needed on Friday, July 1, to accommodate passengers leaving work early for the holiday weekend.

On Monday, July 4, PATH will operate a Saturday schedule. PATH will provide more frequent evening service for those who plan to attend this year's Macy's fireworks displays. Trains will operate every 10 minutes on the Journal Square-to-33rd Street-via-Hoboken line between 7 p.m. and midnight. Also, additional passenger information agents will be at Hoboken and 33rd Street during the evening hours to assist customers.

Tunnels, Bridges and Terminals

The Port Authority projects that approximately 2.6 million vehicles will cross its four interstate bridges and two tunnels from July 1 to July 4.

On July 4, the Port Authority Police anticipate heavy traffic conditions in and around the Holland Tunnel due to the Macy’s Fourth of July fireworks display. To avoid any delays, travelers can use the George Washington Bridge as an alternate route to get in and out of Manhattan.

To relieve congestion and reduce carbon emissions, commuters are encouraged to use mass transit whenever possible. Travelers using the Port Authority Bus Terminal or George Washington Bridge Bus Station should allow extra time and anticipate longer lines than usual.

CONTACT: The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey

Sara Beth Joren, 212 435-7777

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which is self-sufficient and does not receive tax dollars from either state, operates many of the busiest and most important transportation links in the region. They include John F. Kennedy International, Newark Liberty International, LaGuardia, Stewart International and Teterboro airports; AirTrain JFK and AirTrain Newark; the George Washington Bridge and Bus Station; the Lincoln and Holland tunnels; the three bridges between Staten Island and New Jersey; the PATH (Port Authority Trans-Hudson) rapid-transit system; Port Newark; the Elizabeth-Port Authority Marine Terminal; the Howland Hook Marine Terminal on Staten Island; the Brooklyn Piers/Red Hook Container Terminal; the Port Authority-Port Jersey Marine Terminal and the Port Authority Bus Terminal in midtown Manhattan. The agency also owns the 16-acre World Trade Center site in Lower Manhattan.